BARRIER BEACHES OF THE ATLANTIC COAST. 743 



are more dependent upon the action of the ocean currents and 

 winds than upon other agencies. Unquestionably the depression 

 of the coast renders the beaches more subject to overflow and 

 erosion by the waves and currents; but the evidence at many 

 points shows that the latter are capable of forming large areas of 

 beach where the conditions of their existence and action favor 

 construction rather than destruction. While these currents act 

 as at present, the cost of preventing the ravages of the sea, by 

 the methods commonly in use, would probably be much greater 

 than the value of the land protected, for the fine sand is so 

 unstable when wet that bulkheads and breakwaters are quite 

 ephemeral. 



After an extended examination of the various systems of shore 

 defense in use between Sandy Hook and Cape May, it appears to 

 the writer that the only effectual means of protection is the con- 

 struction of jetties extending far enough from the shore to inter- 

 cept the currents which carry away the sand loosened by the 

 waves. Such jetties have added a large area to the territory of 

 Atlantic City, and have protected the shore at Cape May ; no 

 doubt they would be effective everywhere if properly constructed. 



The experience of the past ten years on the New Jersey coast 

 shows conclusively that the ocean front is not fit for building pur- 

 poses, for it is impossible to protect a house near the water's edge 

 from injury or destruction in the heaviest storms. The height 

 and force of the waves in such a tempest as that of September 10 

 and 11, 1889, render them irresistible to any body or structure 

 which nature or art has yet produced, and anything within their 

 reach must suffer. The immediate water-front is only available 

 for parks ; and, if devoted to this use, when protected from the 

 erosive action of the currents by suitable jetties, would remain a 

 neutral ground which, in fair weather, would afford numberless 

 attractions to the occupants of dwellings placed far enough from 

 the strand to be out of reach of the storm-waves. 



Property-owners along the ocean front of the beaches have 

 generally made the mistake of supposing that the domain of the 

 Atlantic was bounded by the high-water mark of the spring tides. 

 Any one who should build a dwelling on the strand below ordi- 

 nary high- water mark would be considered lacking in common 

 sense, yet it is scarcely less foolish to build within reach of the 

 storm-waves. It is, of course, true that many cottages are now 

 much nearer the water's edge than they were a few years ago. 

 This is due to the wear of the shore by currents already described 

 as flowing parallel to it and removing the sand which the waves 

 have loosened. If the action of these currents should be stopped 

 — and there is good evidence to show that a system of jetties 

 would intercept them and cause them to drop their stolen load of 



